The Sabbath Binding upon All.
By J. Q. A. Haughey
Do we not dishonor and discredit Jesus Christ by ignoring the express declaration of Scripture, that he is Lord of the Sabbath day? Jesus himself says, “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” Matt. 12: 8. He also says, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2: 27. Again he says, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” John. 15: 10. Did not Jesus keep the Sabbath day when he kept the Father’s commandments? He surely did; for he could not have kept his commandments, without keeping the Sabbath; for it is enjoined in the fourth commandment. If he did not keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, how could it be said that he kept the Father’s commandments? He also says, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt. 19: 17. And John says, “Hereby we do know that we know him [the Father], if we keep his commandments.” And, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John. 2: 3, 4. It is well that the Spirit hath thus spoken, instead of mortal man. Let the Lord be praised for the light of his truth, and let us not take umbrage at man for speaking it in sincerity and love. But to return: Christ says, Mark 2: 27, “The Sabbath was made for man.” It is a grammatical rule that a noun, not limited by an adjective, is to be taken in its broadest sense; as, Man is mortal, that is, all men are mortal. Webster’s Unabridged says, “Man, is a noun: plural, men.” Hence this language is equivalent to declaring that the Sabbath was made for all men. And, as Gentiles, as well as Jews, are men, we can come to no other conclusion than this: the Sabbath was made for them also. Then wherever there is a man, the Sabbath was made for him; and if he remembers to keep his Saviour’s commandments, he shall abide in the love of Jesus, even as Jesus kept his Father’s commandments, and abode in his love. Observe how beautifully the Old and New Testaments harmonize on the seventh-day Sabbath. The Lord Jesus hath said, “Keep my commandments, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments.” And we find that God’s commandments and the Son’s are the same. Again, Christ says, “I came, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.” John. 6: 38. Then it certainly was the Father’s will that the Son should keep his commandments, or he would not have kept them; and now Christ calls upon us to do the same, even as he did. This being true, it is seen that Jesus did enjoin the keeping of the Sabbath, upon Jews, Gentiles, and all men, when he enjoined the keeping of his commandments, even as he had kept those of his Father. The apostles continued to keep the seventh-day Sabbath throughout their ministry. See Acts 13: 14, 27, 42, 44. This dates some twelve or fifteen years after the crucifixion (A. D. 45), and the apostles are still found to be keeping the Sabbath day. Still later, A. D. 51, they are found keeping it. Acts. 15: 21. Also A. D. 53, Paul is found reasoning with them out of the Scriptures, three Sabbath days. Acts. 17: 2. Still later, A. D. 54, he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath. Acts. 18: 4. If Christ is our example, and the apostles kept the commandments, even as Christ kept them, should we not also keep them, and walk even as the apostles walked? The prophet prophesied correctly concerning those who violate the law, and profane holy things. “They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths.” Eze. 22: 26. But “let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12: 13. And let us so live that we may be prepared to receive the benediction: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22: 14. It follows that those who do not do his commandments, will not have right to the tree of life, neither enter in through the gates into the city. These are solemn truths. The commandments of God are eternal and unalterable, as immutable as he who gave them. For he hath said, “I change not;” Mal. 3: 6; and, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Ps. 89: 34. May the Lord open the eyes of the blind, that they may behold the truths of his word, and walk in the light, even as Christ walked, and win the glorious prize—eternal life in the kingdom of immortal glory.